"Luckily for me. Monsieur d'Épernon, I say, surprised me one day at a certain house where I knew that you were a favored guest, so I took the liberty of borrowing your name."
"Monsieur, what mean you?"
"There, there, softly! Don't be selfish enough to be jealous of one woman just as you are on the point of marrying another! And even if you should be,—and it would be quite consistent with human nature, for man is a vile brute,—you will forgive me in a moment. I am too closely connected with you for you to quarrel with me."
"I do not understand a word that you are saying, monsieur."
"I say that I have a right to be treated by you as a brother, or at least as a brother-in-law."
"You speak in enigmas, and I am still all at sea."
"Very good; I will enlighten you with a single word. My true name is Roland de Lartigues, and Nanon is my sister."
Canolles' suspicions gave way before a sudden swelling of the heart.
"You, Nanon's brother!" he cried. "Oh, poor fellow!"
"Yes, poor fellow, indeed!" rejoined Cauvignac; "you have hit the point exactly; for in addition to a multitude of other disagreeable circumstances connected with my encounter with the authorities here, is that of bearing the name of Roland de Lartigues, and of being Nanon's brother. You are aware that my dear sister is not in the odor of sanctity in the nostrils of Messieurs les Bordelais. Once let it be known that I am Nanon's brother, and I am thrice lost. Now there is one La Rochefoucauld here, and one Lenet, who know everything."